SUPERIOR ENVIRONMENTAL CORP. FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH ROGERS HIGH
SCHOOL

MUSKEGON, Mich., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Superior Environmental Corp. and Rogers High School in Wyoming, Mich., have formed a partnership to provide students with a more realistic "hands-on" approach to learning.
Students in the technology education pilot program at Rogers learned about groundwater contamination from Executive Vice President Mark Stewart and Vice President of Business Development Jim Pratt.
Pratt said, "Our goal was to give the students an insight into the working world. As high school students face the difficult decisions about their college education and career aspirations, this interaction hopefully helps. We also saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate that the environment is a living, breathing entity. With an active environmental clean-up industry, appropriate environmental regulations and enforcement coupled with a commitment to waste minimization and recycling, we'll have a safe planet to live on for years to come."
Technology Education Coordinator for the Kent Intermediate School District (KISD) W. Sidney Holodnick set up the partnership between Superior and Rogers and is working on implementing the applied technology program throughout Kent County to all grade levels. He said that his main goal for this program is to build real-life experiences for students by providing a career component through partnerships with companies like ours in addition to the technological and science curriculum. The Kent Intermediate School District selects schools that have proposed "tech-ed" pilot programs. Those schools that are selected receive a $25,000 grant to develop their own program.
Applied math and computers teacher Tina Demling-Hample, and vocational technology education instructor Duane Scott are working with Stewart and Pratt on the groundwater section of the program at Rogers. Demling-Hample and Scott developed and team-taught the course. They were awarded a $25,000 grant from KISD to fund the purchasing of equipment and training for teachers. At Rogers, this curriculum was geared toward ninth and tenth grade students who are beginning to think about career options, to encourage their interest in math, science and technology.
Prior to Stewart and Pratt's visit, Demling-Hample and Scott provided students with the necessary technical background and terminology. Stewart and Pratt showed the students videotapes explaining the process of contamination migration and recovery. They then presented the students with a problem. Given a set dollar amount for drilling wells, the students had to identify the contaminant, its location and flow, and determine the source. The students used computers and working models to find solutions. After the students solved the problem, Stewart and Pratt presented them with "I Discovered the Superior Solution" T-shirts.
This semester, the students visited a contaminated site and saw how wells are drilled. Environmental scientist Joe Lee demonstrated how the gas chromatograph works in identifying contaminants. The students then worked through another problem using their newly gained knowledge. In addition to problem solving, Stewart and Pratt discussed future opportunities for careers in this field and how businesses use technology. Stewart commented on why the partnership was formed: "Superior's involvement with the school system reflects our belief that a corporation, just as a citizen, has a social responsibility. We feel that it is important to consider the company's employment needs five to 10 years down the road. The best way to assure a work force educated to work in this industry is to get involved with their education."
Demling-Hample and Scott say this section and the program as a whole have received positive response from the students. Scott said, "The kids liked it." Demling-Hample stated, "The students feel overwhelmed by pollution." She added that this shows them possible solutions and also how they can help by being responsible citizens. Holodnick concluded, "It has been an excellent experience and a real pleasure to work with Superior."
The groundwater module emphasizes the biological technology applications. Physical and informational technology applications are used as well. These include CAD/CAM operations, robotics, lasers, and a weather satellite connection that projects images onto an IBM computer.
For more information on this program, contact Superior Environmental Corp. at 616-788-5558.
-0- 6/17/92
/CONTACT: Sara Verbrugge of Superior Environmental Corp. 616-788-5558/ CO: Superior Environmental Corp. ST: Michigan IN: SU:

DH-KK -- DE013 -- 1133 06/17/92 14:06 EDT

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